Theater drop-curtain



Y P. E; HAHN. vTHEATER DROP CURTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED* IAN. 5. 1920.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

A of said curtain being` PAUL n. BAHN, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THEATER :DROP-CURTAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed January 5, 1920. Serial No. 349,641.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL E. BAHN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicao'o, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Theater Drop-Curtains, of whichthe following` is a specification, i i

rhis invention relates to drop curtains adapted to be used in theatersfor stage scenery. i i

Vlt is the object of the invention to provide a curtain with scenerypainted thereon, the said scenery including figures of animals and thelike, portions of said figures preferably the eyes of said animals beingcut out to form openings through the curtain, the said eyes beingattached to or painted-upon a movable member adjacent to and in the rearof said curtain and being visible through the openings in said curtain.

lt is also an object of the invention to so suspend the movable memberthat ythe same may be swung in such a manner as to move the eyes fromside to 4side without moving the curtain, the movement of said eyesbeing visible through'the openings in the curtain.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of` parts setforth in the following specification `and particularly pointed outin theclaims thereof.

Referring to the drawings :i i

Figure 1 is a front elevation of adrop curtain embodying my inventiomaportion broken away to clearly illustrate the movable member.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section takenV on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a small portion of a drop curtain andmovable member and illustrating a modified arrangement of supporting themovable member.

Fig. 4C is a detail vertical section through an eye .of one of the`figures.

Like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views of thedrawings.

ln the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 5 represents acurtain the front surface of which has scenery painted thereon, the saidscenery including` figures G representing animals or the like. The upperedge of the curtain 5 is fastened by cords 7 to a hatten 8, the saidcords extending through eyelets 9 provided in the curtain and over andaround said hatten. The batten 8 is suspended by ropes 10 and may beraised and lowered in the usual well-known manner.

The-figures arepreferably of a grotesque character and are provided` forthe purpose of creating' amusement in connection with a song or sketchwhich is being presented to an audience by actors upon the stage.Portions of the figures 6, preferably the eyes, are cut out therebyforming openings 11 in the curtain 5.

Located inthe rear of the curtain 5 and adjacent thereto is a movablemember 12 constructed of canvas or the like and sus.n pended by ropes 13from the hatten 8. The ropes 13 furthermore extend through the eyelets 9which act to correctly positionthe movable member and prevent the ropes18 from movingout of position on the hatten 8 while operating themovable member. Located upon the movable member 13 in a position to bevisible through the openings 11 of 'the figures 6 are spots 14constituting eyes, the said spots representing the iris of theeye in thecenter of which is fastened in any desirable manner a mirror l5 whichrepresents the pupil ofthe eye. The mirrors 15 are provided for thepurpose of reflecting rays of light and thereby giving a brilliancy tosaid eyes and increasing the effectiveness of the scenery. The movablemember 12 is held smooth and iatby a rod 16 constructed preferably inshort sections for convenience in transporting, the said sections beingscrewed together and inserted in a hem 17 provided adjacent to the upperedge of the movable member while the lower edge of said member isprovided with a hem 18 in which is inserted a betten 19 Vwhich acts as aweight. The movableimember may swing from the hatten 8 withoutinterfering with or. moving the curtain 5.

T he operation of my improved drop curtain as follows: The scenery anddecorations upon the curtain are arranged to harmonize with thecharacter of the act which is to be presented. During the presentationof the act by the actors upon the stage at the proper time a stageattendant gently swings the movable member l2, thereby moving the e res14 from side to side. This movement of the eyes will be visible to theaudience through the openings 11. During this move-V ment the mirrors 15will reflect any rays of j ing upon the curtain may,

light striking thereagainst and result in producing an extremely noveland amusing efect. It is evident that the scenery appearit it is sodesired, include'lioivers oit various varieties such as daisies,sunlloivers, pansies, and the like which may be fantastically arrangedto represent faces, the eyes of Which may be made movable ashereinbeiore described Without departing from the spirit of thisinvention.` lnFig. 3 is illustrated a modified embodiment of myinvention in which a movable member 2O similar in all respects to themovable member l2, previously described is attached directlyto the rearet a curtain 2i and suspended by any suitable device Q2 which maybeinserted through eyelets 23 and 2li attached respectively to the movablemember 20 and a tuck 25 which is formed upon the rear oi the curtain 2l.This movable memberv may be swung ina manner similar to the movablemember l2 although greater'care has to be taken not to move the curtain2l in so doing. l f Y Having thus described my invention what l claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent Y is .1. A curtain, figuresthereon representing animate and inanimate objects, portions of saidiigures being cut out to form openings through said curtain, and amovable member suspended independently of said curtain adjacent to saidcurtain Withlspotsthereon adapted to register with said openings.

2. A curtain, iigures thereon representing` animals or the like,portions of said gures being cut out to form openings through saidcurtain, and a movcble member `suspended independently of said curtainadjacent to said-curtain Withportions thereon representing said cut outportions and adapted to register with said openings.

3. A curtain, scenery thereon including figures of animals or the like,the eyes ot said animals being cut out to form openings through saidcurtain, `a movableV member suspended independently oi said curtainadjacent to'said curtain, and eyes upon said movable member adapted tolregister with said openings.

l. A curtain, scenery thereon including guresoi` animals-orthe like, theeyes oi said animals being out out to form openingstlirouglrfsaidcurtain, a movable member suspended independently of saidcurtain in the rear of said curtain and adjacent thereto, and spotsconstituting eyes upon said Vduring the swinging movable member adaptedto register With said openings.

j 5. A curtain, igures of animals or scenery thereon 'including thelike, the eyes of said animals being cut out to form openings throughsaid curtain, a movable member f suspended in the rear of said curtainand jacent thereto, spots constituting eyes upon said movable member,and a mirror located upon said spots and adapted to reflect rays orlight through said openings.

Y -A curtain, scenery thereon including gures ot animals or the like,the eyes of said animals being cutv out to form openings through saidcurtain, a hatten from Which saidV curtain is hung, a movablel membersuspended'irom said batteri in the rearV ot and adjacent to saidcurtain, and eyes upon said movable member adapted to-register with saidopenings. 1

8. A curtain, scenery thereon Vincluding iigures of animals orY thelike,.t lie eyes ot said animals being cutout to'form openings throughsaid curtain, a battenirom which said curtain .is hung, a movable membersuspended from said batteii in the rear of and acent to said curtain,eyes upon said movable member adapted to register With said openings,andmeans to reiiect rays oflight trom said eyes.

9. A curtain, scenery thereon including figures of animals or the like,the eyes ot said animals being cutV Vout to form openings through saidcurtain, a hatten from which said curtain is hung, a movablemember'suspended from said batten in the rear o and adj acent' to saidcurtain, eyes upon said movable ymember adapted to register with saidopenings, means to reflect rays o t lightV from said eyes, and means tostretch said movable member and hold 'the same smooth and flat movementthereoi.V

ln testimonywhereoii l have hereunto set my hand inpresenceof tivosubscribing'yvitnesses. v

:PAUL E. BAHN.'

i lWitnesses: Y 1

FiiANKLiN E. Low, CATHERINE M.Joron.

